Polycrylic vs. Polyurethane: Which Is Right For Your Project?

Natural wood can be a beautiful finish—if you seal it properly. Woodworking projects usually need a clear topcoat to seal the wood and protect it from heat, moisture, and general use. For this, you can use polycrylic or polyurethane as a sealant for unfinished wood. Still, the two have distinct differences that you should pay attention to if you want your project to come out just right. Here’s a breakdown of the differences between the finishes.

Polycrylic Pros and Cons

Polycrylic is a water-based wood sealant that comes in various sheens, including satin, gloss, matte, ultra-flat, and high gloss. It can be brushed, rolled, or applied as an aerosol. Polycrylic has a few distinct pros and cons that make it different from polyurethane.

Pros

Polycrylic benefits include:

• Has less of an odor and is safer than polyurethane

• Needs a shorter time to dry

• Leaves a durable, hard finish

• Goes on clear so that it won’t change the appearance of the wood

• More cost-friendly than polyurethane

• Easy to find at local hardware stores

• Cleanup is quick and straightforward and only requires soap and water

Cons

Using polycrylic as your wood sealant does have its drawbacks, including:

• Sometimes takes on a milky appearance when applied to dark woods

• Requires a longer curing time, even though it dries fast

• Fast drying time means brush strokes may be visible

• Is not as resistant to high heat

• Has a runny consistency, so it can be challenging to apply to vertical surfaces

Polyurethane Pros and Cons

There are two different types of polyurethane finishes: water-based and oil-based. Sometimes referred to as “liquid plastic,” polyurethane in both forms is a popular choice as a wood sealant. Like polycrylic, both types of polyurethane finishes have their pros and cons.

Water-Based Polyurethane Pros

Choosing water-based polyurethane comes with a few benefits:

• Contains less volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than oil-based formulas

• Dries faster than oil-based

• Completely clear finish, so you can use it on lighter woods without fear of discoloring

Water-Based Polyurethane Cons

Water-based polyurethane also has some drawbacks:

• Not as heat-resistant or water-resistant as oil-based polyurethane

• Less durable than oil-based polyurethane

• Doesn’t aesthetically enhance the wood grain

Oil-Based Polyurethane Pros

Polyurethane finishes offer benefits, such as:

• More durable than water-based polyurethane and polycrylic

• Suitable for flooring or any furniture that gets heavy use

• Enhances the wood grain, making colors deeper

• Water-resistant, so good for use on outdoor projects like sealing a deck

• Resistant to high temperatures

• Easier to apply evenly than polycrylic

Oil-Based Polyurethane Cons

Oil-based polyurethane sealants also have their challenges, including:

• Contains a lot of VOCs, giving it a pungent odor

• Can cause headaches, eye irritation, and dizziness if you apply it in a poorly ventilated area without a respirator

• Very combustible

• Dries with a slightly amber tone, so you should not use it on lighter woods or over white paint

Polycrylic vs. Polyurethane: Which Is Better?

Both polycrylic and polyurethane will give you a nice finish on your woodworking project, whether you’re refinishing hardwood floors or touching up furniture. Which finish you choose depends on what you want the final look to be, what your project is, and the color of your wood. 

Appearance

When it dries, polycrylic can take on a milky color, so it’s best to use it on lighter woods and white finishes. Oil-based polyurethane is the opposite—it tends to have an amber hue when dry, so it goes better on darker woods like mahogany. Water-based polyurethane doesn’t get quite as dark of a yellow tone as oil-based polyurethane, but it can look yellow on light woods and milky on dark woods.

Winner: Tie

Finish Options

Polycrylic, water-based polyurethane, and oil-based polyurethane all come in various finishes, including ultra-flat, matte, satin, semigloss, and gloss. You’re not limited with either finish, so your choice depends on the look that you want for your project.

Winner: Tie

Durability

While polycrylic and polyurethane are both durable and long-lasting, oil-based polyurethane works well for projects like protecting your wood floor stain or furniture that you use daily. Oil-based polyurethane can handle more use and is better in high temperatures and more moisture-resistant than water-based polyurethane and polycrylic.

Winner: Oil-based polyurethane

Price

Polycrylic and water-based polyurethane usually cost around $20 to $30 per quart, while oil-based polyurethane can cost anywhere from $20 to upwards of $50 per quart.

If cost is a factor in your finish decision, polycrylic is the more budget-friendly of the two options. However, water-based polyurethane and polycrylic are comparable in price because water-based finishes cost less to manufacture than oil-based finishes. 

Winner: Polycrylic 

Application

While you can apply both polycrylic and polyurethane using a brush, roller, or spray, polycrylic does tend to dry faster. Since it dries quickly, it’s harder to get a smooth finish with polycrylic than with polyurethane, and you risk leaving brush marks behind if you don’t work quickly enough. If you’d like to use polycrylic but feel your pro could benefit from a pro’s expertise, consider getting a quote from a painting contractor near you.

Winner: Polyurethane

Compounds

Polyurethane contains VOCs, which can be harmful to breathe in for significant periods of time, so it’s important to have good ventilation or use a respirator when working with the product. Polycrylic doesn’t contain VOCs, so it doesn’t cause health problems like headaches.

Winner: Polycrylic